Cape Cod Healthcare has announced that Falmouth Hospital has been chosen as one of 50 Exceptional Hospitals based on a nationwide survey conducted by Consumer's Digest and The Leapfrog Group. Falmouth Hospital is one of the five Massachusetts hospitals on the list.

Fitness and a little fun

Mayflower Place Retirement Community on Buck Island Road in West Yarmouth hosts a Fitness Open House May 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. to show off its fitness center. Dr. Kristine Soly, a holistic cardiologist, will speak. RSVP to 508-790-0200 for a seat for the talk.

Memorial service to be held in Falmouth

Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod will sponsor an Interfaith Memorial Service of Remembrance May 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 840 Sandwich Road in Falmouth, when those patients who passed away in their care between May 1, 2004 and April 30, 2005 will be remembered at 3 p.m. The Rev. Ellen Chahey is the coordinator for the service.

Restless legs syndrome support group

There will be a support group meeting May 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Epoch Senior Health Care of Harwich, 111 Headwaters Drive in Harwich. An introduction to restless leg syndrome education course for all nurses will be held later that day at 6 p.m. Both events are free. For details, call 508-430-1717.

Grief support group

Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod is offering a grief support group in Hyannis for adults who have experienced a loss in the last two years. The group will start meeting May 26 at 270 Communications Way in Hyannis at 10 a.m. for the next eight weeks. Free.

Diabetes education/information office opened in Dennis

Cape Cod Healthcare, the Cape Cod office of the American Diabetes Association and the Diabetes Education Center of Cape Cod have announced a collaborative effort to open a new office focused on diabetes education. The office is located at 109 Main St. in the Windmill Plaza in West Dennis where classes, computers and various services will be available for those seeking information on diabetes.

Wanzer to discuss post-Schiavo issues

Sidney Wanzer, M.D., discusses the rights of the terminally ill and their families May 21 at 2 p.m. at Snow Library in Orleans. Main Street.

Adult exercise program in Hyannis

Get in shape by joining LIve for Life classes offered by the YMCA each Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Barnstable Senior Center, 825 Falmouth Road in Hyannis. Admission is $25 per month.

Summer camp for asthmatics

Children with asthma can get away for some fresh air this summer at Camp Chest Nut. Organized by the American Lung Association of Massachusetts, sessions run from June 26 through July 1 and are held at the American Camping Association's Bement Camp and Conference Center in Charlton Depot. Here children will learn the skills necessary to manage and control their asthma. Participation is $475 and financial aid is available. For details, call 800-LUNGUSA.

Meningitis vaccine clinic

The VNA will be offering a meningitis vaccine clinic for high school graduates who plan to enter college in the fall. The clinics will be held during May and June at the South Dennis office. Call 877-267-7700 for an appointment.

Ombudsmen needed

Residents of nursing and rest homes on Cape Cod have a special program that protects their rights to good care. The Long Term Care Ombusdman Program was established in 1973 to do just that. The ombudsmen, volunteers trained and certified by the Elder Service Office of Cape Cod, act as advocates for the nursing home or rest home residents. There is a great need for more ombudsmen throughout the Cape. Call 800-244-4630, ext. 220.

Supporters sign on for Light the Night Walk

The committee for The Massachusetts Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk includes co-chairs Kelly Guay and David Fernandes along with Jim McHardie, Shirley McCormack and Paula Welch. This year's walk is slated for Oct. 2.

VNA offers van service and interpreters

The Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod has a 28-foot van that travels throughout the Cape to link underserved individuals and families with health education and preventative screening services. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and more may be tested at the van. Another unique service the VNA offers is interpretation and tele-interpretation in five languages: Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Persian and Italian. To find out more about these programs, call 888-557-9994, ext. 7620.

Free health screenings for men

Free health screenings through the Men's Health Partnership are available to men ages 18 to 64 who are uninsured or underinsured. The Visting Nurse Association of Cape Cod is holding the screenings, which includes tests for glucose, cholesterol, prostate screening and more. To enroll in the program, call 888-557-9994.

Reduce stress now

Cape Stress Reduction is offering an eight-week program in "Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction" Wednesday evenings at the Ramada Inn in Hyannis or Thursday mornings at the West Barnstable Community Center, Route 149. To sign up, call 508-420-3300 or e-mail
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VNA has exercise class and more

Join a Young at Heart exercise class for a 10-week run and improve your ticker in just one hour, twice a week. A small fee and doctor's approval are needed. Senior Care Management Services are offered by the VNA. For an assessment of an individual's health care needs, call 877-267-7700.A Young at Heart Senior Weight Training program is now available twice a week for 12 weeks, call for details. For further information, call the VNA at 877-267-7700.

VNA Hospice sets men's bereavement group

The Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod Hospice Bereavement Program offers a support group designed for men who have lost a loved one. The group meets at the South Dennis office of the VNA, 434 Route 134. For information, call 800-978-0838.

Support for bereaved parents at VNA

The Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod is sponsoring a Bereaved Parents Support Group for those who have lost children. The group meets every Monday at 1 p.m. at the VNA, 67 Ter Heun Drive in Falmouth; volunteers will be available for child care of other children in the family. For information, call 800-978-0838.

Alzheimer's Support Group in Dennis

Eagle Pond Rehabilitation and Living Center of South Dennis hosts an Alzheimer's Support Group meeting on the second Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. For information, call 508-385-6034.

Parents helping parents

Parents Helping Parents, a self-help support group, offers free weekly meetings for parents to share understanding, information, ideas and support. The Hyannis meetings take place on Wednesday evenings. Call 800-882-1250. The group is looking for volunteers with good interpersonal skills. Training is available.

CPR class offered in Hyannis

A CPR certification course for lay rescuers will be offered May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Cape Cod Human Services building, 460 West Main Street in Hyannis. Adult and pediatric methods will be included. The cost is $40 per person with some discounts available. Pre-registration is required by calling 781-582-1440 or 800-434-6000 by May 19.

Rehabilitation Hospital offers support

RHCI, 311 Service Road in East Sandwich, hosts a fibromyalgia support group the fourth Thursday of the month. A stroke support group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The aphasia community group meets the first Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. The Well-Spouse Support Group meets every third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Golfers with physical limitations can get back in the swing when they attend a three-week workshop in adaptive techniques beginning June 6 (13 and 20) at the Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course in Marstons Mills. The next topic in this joint effort between RHCI and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is how to make changes and choices to take control of fatigue, on May 26, followed June 2 by a presentation by Martha Maynard, Asst. Director of Community Programs, National MS Soceity, Central New England Chapter.

Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Peer-led support groups for people with psychiatric disabilities meet Mondays weekly at Cape Cod Human Services, 460 West Main St. in Hyannis, at 6 p.m. They also meet the last Saturday of the month at the Federated Church, Main Street in Orleans, at 10 a.m.

Cancer support group launched in Mashpee

Cape Cod Healthcare has organized a Living With Cancer education support group that meets weekly on Tuesdays at the Mashpee Health Center, 5 Industrial Road. For information, call 508-539-6215.

Drop-in support for bereaved in town

Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 270 Communications Way in Hyannis, hosts a support group for those who have already attended the eight-week bereavement support group and for those who are considering joining a group but want more information. Call 508-957-0200.

Respite program set for caregivers

The Caregiver Support and Companion Program at the Barnstable Senior Center is offering caregivers age 60 and up caring for a loved one, and also younger caregivers who are caring for seniors 60 and up, a free respite program two mornings a week providing supervised care for their loved one. Other opportunities are available; call 508-862-4750.

Breastfeeding Center has many courses

The Center for Breastfeeding, 327 Quaker Meetinghouse Road in East Sandwich, offers a variety of services and courses for mothers. These include free lactation counseling, yoga for babies and tots, a Mom's Club, pumps and supplies, a program to learn to sign with your baby, sing-alongs and more. "Mothers and Multiples," for those with or expecting twins or more, meets the last Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Itsy Bitsy Yoga for babies and tots is held on Thursday at 3 p.m. For details, call 888-890-2229.

Scholl Endowment for kids with disabilities

The Norah Jane Scholl Children's Endowment Fund was established at the Cape Cod Foundation in 1998 to help children with disabilities. To apply for assistance, write the Cape Cod Foundation and include information about the child's and family's needs. For details, call 508-790-3040.

A support group for smokers in Dennis

Join the Dennis Free at Last Group, a support group for smokers who want to quit that meets Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at the West Dennis Graded Schoolhouse on School Street.

Experience Reiki, free

A free Reiki Clinic is held every third Thursday of the month at the Center for Healing Therapies/Reiki By the Sea, 15 West Bay Road in Osterville. No appointments are necessary for this light hand treatment geared to relieve pain, stress and mental distress. For information, call 508-888-7788.

Alzheimer's services

The Barnstable County Alzheimer's Collaborative offers a program called Safe Return for those with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Safe Return is a 24-hour database registry operated by the Alzheimer's Association; call 508-375-6043 for information or to register a loved one.

Support for dealing with bipolar disorder

A support group for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Falmouth Hospital in the Faxon 2 basement from 7 to 8 p.m. For information, call 508-548-5300.

Get connected

Community Connections (34 Main St. in Orleans, 50 Long Pond Drive in South Yarmouth and Summerfield Park in Mashpee) provides comprehensive services to help people with disabilities lead active lives. There are openings for daytime programs, community and social activities and more. Also available are handicapped accessible vans for transportation to Boston hospitals as well as local ones. For information, call 800-308-1321, ext. 130.

Fitness programs at Y

The YMCA Cape Cod in West Barnstable is offering three fitness programs: cardio kickboxing on Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.; an abs, cardio, glutes and stretch class on Monday and Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. and a professional message class on Tuesdays, by appointment. To sign up, call Dianne French at 508-362-6500, ext. 106.

Help for hard of hearing

Members of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) meet the last Saturday of the month at the CORD building, across from the Toyota dealership, on Route 132 in Hyannis. A social hour gets things going at 9:30 a.m. followed by the 10 a.m. meeting, during which there is always a speaker. Annual membership dues are $10 and newcomers are welcome.

Mended Hearts meets at CCH

Members of the Mended Hearts group meet every third Thursday at 4 p.m. at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis to discuss heart disease and share experiences. Those with heart disease and members of their family are welcome to attend. Contact Mended Hearts at 508-385-4313 or go to www.capecodmendedhearts.com.

Self-help for sight loss monthly

A sight loss self-help support group will meet the second Tuesday of the month at the Unitarian Church of Barnstable, Route 6A, at 11 a.m.

Center offers parenting classes

Parents with children up to 6 years old are invited to sign up for an eight-week series of classes that covers communication, developmental issues, understanding temperament, parenting styles, discipline and more. The classes, being held at the Lyndon Lorusso Center for Children and Families, 206 Breeds Hill Road in Hyannis, begin at 6:30 p.m. A pizza dinner is served at 6 p.m. The series is free. Call 508-775-6240 for sign-up and information.

Help for food addicts in Mashpee

Men and women experiencing anorexia, bulimia and overeating are invited to attend free meetings of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Sundays at 9:30 a.m. at the Mashpee Senior Center and Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Centerville community center, 524 Main St.